Priceline.com wins tax break

WYOMING -- City officials fast-tracked a tax break for Priceline.com as the company transforms an office building at 4147 Eastern Ave. SE, formerly housing Siemens Dematic and Smiths Industries, into a call center for one of its online ventures.

A special City Council meeting this week approved a 10-year, 100-percent property tax abatement on up to $6 million in fixtures and equipment.

At least 250 employees, and as many as 424, are expected to earn an average wage of $14 per hour plus benefits working for Booking.com, a hotel reservation Web site launched by the Norwalk, Conn.-based Priceline.